It was the night watch, positioned as usual at the end of the corridor leading to the dical wing of the Patriarch’s main palace. They were standing, as was their custom.
There were two guards from the Foundation Establishnt stage nad Wu Tian and Beiming. They were accustod to their work here, standing to guard the dical wing even if there were no patients, to prevent theft.
Standing as a newcor this ti, unlike usual, was a middle-aged man. He was leaning his back against the inner walls of the corridor, his face towards the ground. This new man here was Ji Tuan. He had been appointed exactly two days ago by the Great Elder himself, and he was told to guard the place and ensure he inford him when the white-haired girl awoke from her slumber.
He ignored the two veterans, as he was at the Peak Stage of Foundation Establishnt; he simply held greater value than the old guards.
Beiming spoke, "Have you heard of that? It is said that the new Thirtieth Elder has built a new departnt, called the ’Departnt of Technology.’ It is a truly strange na, but I heard that the puppets he creates can fight without spiritual energy."
Wu Tian looked at him with slightly regretful eyes. "Do not believe everything you hear. It is true that we have no hope of ascending anymore, but it is a cri to deceive yourself with sothing."
Ji Tuan listened to the guards’ words in complete silence. He anticipated Beiming’s response.
"Nay, the real cri is that we die here. Just look at them; the clan’s resources are always for those who possess talent. What about us, who are at the bottom and do not even possess hope? They can replace you or . What is the use of this work, then?"
Wu Tian sighed. He had begun to doubt his own words due to a very simple matter: who knows what fate hides for you? This was a phrase he had always believed in since childhood. Now he was certain that others knew what awaited them: it was simply death. And who else is waiting for you?
"I do not know, but what we all know is that Cultivation is the only path to power."
Ji Tuan laughed at these words and finally spoke after much silence.
"That is because you truly do not know anything. If there really were another way, why, after all these billions of years, has it only been discovered now? If it were really true, why does no one rush to it except talentless people like you? Simply put, this life is ranks... no one is equal to another."
Beiming returned the laugh, cackling even harder. Ji Tuan’s expression contorted...
"You are incredibly stupid. What makes you so certain in your words—that in all these billions of years, there has been nothing but cultivation? As if you were an immortal from ancient tis. Moreover, if this science had been discovered a million years ago, soone like you would surely have said: ’Why was this not discovered billions of years ago, instead of just a million?’"
Ji Tuan beca irritated and approached Beiming, intimidating him.
"That is because nothing is better than Cultivation... if there were sothing better, we would have known about it."
The smile remained on Beiming’s face.
"You are contradicting yourself, man. Didn’t you say life is ranks? What is your ’high rank’ that you should know everything? Besides, it doesn’t work like that. You take the famous path, not the best one for you. As a man at the Peak of Foundation Establishnt, a man at the Peak of the Spirit Palace will still want to slap you on your backside. Therefore, he will not help you by telling you that there are other ways to power."
It was extrely strange—to speak with such audacity against a Peak expert of the Foundation Establishnt realm was highly unusual. As he said, everything is ranks, and no one wants another to rise above them.
This was, in a humorous way, his inner feeling: he simply fed on the sense of superiority over the likes of them to compensate for the treatnt he received from the stronger ones. This is the world of Cultivation, simply put; that is why everyone wants to be the strongest.
BOSH!
Beiming was punched with great force in his lower jaw, resulting in him falling to the ground and losing two teeth. A white aura, resembling dust in form, radiated from Ji Tuan, blending with his fist as it descended upon Beiming’s body.
Beiming tried to control his power and defend himself.
SHHHH!
But his defenses were destroyed by a kick, and he was thrown to the ground under the eyes of Wu Tian, who stood with his body trembling.
"You are utter scum... you deserve to die."
Ji Tuan’s foot was on his neck, about to crush it.
OPEN.
At the end of the corridor, illuminated by the light of luminous stones, the door opened before everyone. Before them was a fairy erging from the dical room, with flawless beauty and a condescending look that interrupted everything in its path.
Ji Tuan pulled away from the man’s neck and bowed imdiately to Ni Ni Layan as she ca from the end of the corridor.
"My Lady... we thank the heavens for your awakening."
Ni Ni Layan paid no attention; she wanted to go and find Morse to understand from him what these System updates ant. As she passed, Ji Tuan felt he was clearing the way for her automatically; it seed involuntary.
As she passed, there was sweat. He was experiencing the sa pressure from the higher ranks again. He had heard the rumors that she alone killed dozens from the Nascent Soul stage, while he—a Peak Foundation Establishnt—was not even authorized to look at her face.
Beiming was on the ground, gasping and coughing, looking up from below at Ni Ni Layan’s feet as she passed.
"My Lady... wait."
He spoke with his raspy voice amidst the gazes of everyone, using his palms to push himself up as he gasped for air. He tried to gather his words while feeling dizzy.
"My Lady... you are extrely powerful. A great cultivator with great talent. Is there another way to power besides Cultivation?"
This scene was similar to a scene in Ni Ni Layan’s mind, when she t the man with the solar Yang aura who saved her from the two Martial Emperors in the Celestial World. At that ti, she had asked a similar question: "how can I beco as powerful as you?"
Back then, she had lost her ambition to beco the strongest person as she wished, because she discovered horizons greater than her ability to comprehend. Therefore, she would respond with the sa answer that man gave:
"I... I don’t know. To be honest, if you want advice from : follow your heart."
It was a very general response, one that wouldn’t satisfy any mind... yet he felt sothing different. The thing was, she spoke those words: "I don’t know." Even a genius like her didn’t know...
So who were they to know? This only increased his faith. He rose from the ground despite his weakness.
"My Lady... they want to exploit your power. They are coveting you. This is their ’gratitude.’ Do not trust anyone here; they are all wolves."
He couldn’t speak further after those words because he was struck again and knocked down. Ji Tuan bowed, signs of anxiety and tension appearing on his face. He began rubbing his hands together.
"Pardon , My Lady... how about I escort you to Mr. Morse’s location?"
Ni Ni Layan looked at the man standing before her.
"Do you see as a child to be escorted?"
"Pardon , My Lady, I ant nothing by it..."
"Do you think you know more than I do?"
He dared not answer with anything but: "No. I am but an ant in your ocean."
"Then go and cover yourself well in your bed."
The latter stood frozen in his place, unable to do anything except send a telepathic ssage to the Great Elder. He reported that the Lady had co out, prevented him from accompanying her, and seed to want to search for Morse.
In the palace of the Great Elder, Byeong...
The telepathic ssage reached him while he was ditating. He smiled and imdiately rose from his ditative state.
"Ling Niang, co here at once!"
The door opened imdiately before the Great Elder.
"At your service, Master." He bowed instantly, hands before his face.
"Prepare five maidservants with a few spiritual treasures. The girl has awakened. You must be the first; greet her and bring her here at any cost. Tell her you will take her to Morse."
"As you command."
Ling Niang left the room, leaving the Great Elder smiling and laughing.
Now that the news of the Secret Unit mbers’ deaths had been hidden from Morse, and those who saw it were silenced... Elder Byeong looked at the crystal piece in his hand.
He stared into it as it reflected his face. This crystal was the host for the "Demonic Child Technique." Through this sinister technique, he would make Ni Ni Layan train with it...
Then, she would submit entirely to her lust. At that mont, she would beco like a dog in his grip, and then, no one would be able to stop him.
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